Looking Back at the Best of 2006

This is an edited version of the free JMOM Newsletter. This blog is for those who are having problems receiving the newsletter (due to Spam rejection, etc.) and who aren't aware of the newsletter (which you can subscribe to on the main page of the website).


The last newsletter announced the new URL (website address)
and new design for Jheff's Marketplace of the Mind! You may
have also noticed that the home page has now been getting
regular updates. Lots of stuff is coming in and I'm going
to try hard to catch up on all that stuff this week.


CHECK THE UPDATE PAGE:
Okay, I'll say it again. Check the site for the latest
news, product updates, and product comments. It's my way of
getting the info to you faster than waiting for enough info
to fill up an issue of the newsletter. In fact, if you go
there now, you'll find quite a bit reported that will be
found in the next newsletter. For example, over the
holidays I added Michael Sibbernsen's Frame of Mind, which
is a limited edition of 100. There are now less than 40
left. My comments are up on the site and I'll be sending it
out in a newsletter in a day or two. Which may be too late.

For now though, this is a special newsletter looking back at
the best of 2006. So here we go.

THE BEST OF 2006

Everyone has different tastes, but that doesn't stop folks
from picking the year's best books, movies, toys, products,
stocks, news items, etc. However, these lists do serve as a
guide. With that in mind, once again I'll jump into the
spirit of the end-of-the-year best-of lists and provide my
look back at the best of those items that I received and
reviewed during 2006. Remember, this is purely subjective
and you've been warned.

BEST MENTALISM PRODUCT OF 2006:
PSYCHOLOGICAL SUBTLETIES 2, Banachek
(runner-up) STEALTH ASSASSIN, Peter Nardi
(runner-up) MASTER BILLET COURSE, Allan Zingg

In considering which product is most essential to every type
of mentalist out there, Banachek's latest book takes that
title easily. Psychological subtlety is what mentalism is
all about. It's what makes mentalism work. Sure, critics
of this book have complained that a lot of this material is
not new. And that's not the point. This material is a
collection of subtleties that mentalists the world over are
using. It's a reference source to refer back to again and
again, just like the first volume in the series. It also
separates the serious mentalist from those that need to
understand the craft more. The serious mentalists know the
value of this book and the golden information it contains.
Of all the products that came out in 2006, this is the one
that I'd tell mentalists they must have. Peter Nardi's
Stealth Assassin and Allan Zingg's Master Billet Course are
runners-up and I'll comment on those below.

BEST EFFECT:
ASCENSION, Joshua Quinn
(runner-up) MANHATTANVILLE & SINISTER, Outlaw Effects

Though Ascension is a diabolically clever and unique reading
system, it can be presented as just about any type of
mentalism you need it to be. And though it uses small
supermarket checkout astrology guides, it can be presented
close-up or on the stage. It's one of those packs flat,
plays big effects. Though it's easy to use, inexperienced
mentalists may have some difficulty packing that big punch
that this effect can deliver, but it will still be
memorable. Manhattanville and Sinister, both from Outlaw
Effects, are the latest two in a series of hand-aged,
hand-made notebooks that are, in truth, very thematic and
audience-gripping book tests.

Also recommended: $, Ascension, Blindsight, Fate,
Mentalist's Puzzle Set

BEST EFFECT WITH CARDS:
ENTOURAGE, Gordon Bean

I do like mentalism card effects when they make sense, are
direct, and are powerful. This effect is not only all
three, but falls into that category which is a bane to many
mentalists -- the packet card trick. However, Phil
Goldstein's B'Wave is a legendary packet effect that is
mentalism and Entourage, which is like B'Wave on steroids in
terms of plot, ranks right up there, if not being better.
Honorable Mention goes to Double Down, a very strong
casino-themed effect, because it came out before 2006.

Also recommended: In-Flight

BEST UTILITY PRODUCT:
STEALTH ASSASSIN, Peter Nardi

Docc Hilford had listed in a recent book that he was putting
out his mentalist's wallet. When I asked him at Mindvention
2006 when it would be released, he said it wasn't going to
be. He said that the Stealth Assassin was much better than
he had come up with and the wallet that he now used. I also
use the Stealth Assassin. It's a regular wallet that has
three of the best features that any mentalist could want,
although it has a few more features, too. It's definitely
worth the investment.

Also recommended: Caper Case Unlimited, Dice-Tiny, Postal,
Psychic Crayons

BEST BOOK:
PSYCHOLOGICAL SUBTLETIES 2, Banachek
(runner-up) ACT OF IMAGINATION, Enrique Enriquez

Besides Banachek's book, which was discussed above, there
were a number of really good books that came out this year.
So much that I'd heartily recommend most of these books
before many items in other categories. However, Enrique
Enriquez' book is a complete and fresh new act for
mentalists. Even if you choose not to perform this effect,
it's update on Orville Meyer's classic Telepathy in Action
is well worth studying by any mentalist.

Also recommended: Book of Numbers Vol.1-3, Deep Thought,
Frame of Mind, Hidden Numerical Forces, Impromptu Book Test,
Lost in Thought, Prevaricator, Simple-Minded, Think Pink
Complete Edition

BEST E-BOOK:
INVISIBLE GEMSTONE, Enrique Enriquez
(runner-up) SIMPLE ESP CARD READING SYSTEM, Alan Strydom

This is another strong category as I really like all the
recommended items on the list. I had to favor Enrique
Enriquez' material because it's very rare to have such a
strong mentalism that requires absolutely NO props and can
be done anywhere. Yes, it is a reading system that uses
known reading techniques, but it's the presentation here
that
makes it classic. Alan Strydom's Simple ESP Card Reading
System is more versatile and also quite strong. For those
who aren't into reading, billet workers need Elliott
Bresler's Switchcraft, Q&A users will find a new wrinkle
with Max Gordon's Clue & A, and Scott Grossberg's Mindcast
provides a powerful routine with original and printable
props.


BEST DVD/CD-ROM:
MASTER BILLET COURSE, Allan Zingg
(Honorable Mention) ACIDUS NOVUS, Millard Longman
(Honorable Mention) FREESTYLE BOOK TEST, Greg Arce &
Federico Ludueno

Despite its numerous lackluster production qualities, the
material on the Master Billet Course is first-rate. Though
mentalists don't need to know any billet techniques to be
successful, it is a powerful weapon that mentalists should
have, and is recommended to have, in their arsenal. Millard
Longman's Acidus Novus and Greg Arce & Federico Ludueno's
Freestyle Book Test receive honorable mention because
technically they were released earlier than 2006.

Also recommended: Educating Archer, Max Maven Nothing

So, shall I plunge into the worst of 2006? . . . Nah. It's
better not to waste space and time on those. Let's just
call 2006 a wrap and move on into the next year.

Have a Happy New Year.

Until next time. -- Jheff